Press control mechanism



July 6, 1937. A. F. HANNEY PRESS CONTROL MECHANISM Fil ed Aug. 29. 1935 N JTM! If/ mw.

Patented July 6, `1937 PRESS CONTROLMECHANISM Angus Hanney, Norwood, Ohio, assigncrto The American Laundry Machinery Company, Norwood, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application August 29,

10 Claims.

This invention relates to a pressing machine and particularly to a control mechanism therefor.

My invention provides a pressing machine having a pair of coacting pressing membersand motor means for causing preliminary and final closing movement of the pressing members, together with novel means for actuating thenal closing movement by utilization of air compressed by the motor means during the preliminary closing movement.

My invention also provides a pressing machine in which one member is moved to a position adjacent the other by mechanism which when so positioned resists pressure against the said one member, together with motor means for moving the other member into final pressure engagement with its coacting member. In such a machine I provide a novel controlling device for the motor with a novel operative connection between this mechanism and the mechanism Which moves the first named pressing member.

My invention provides a pressing machine of the type utilized in laundry and garment work with a safe means for moving the pressing members to position closely adjacent each other and a novel means for initiating the final closing movement.

Another feature of my invention is the pro- Vision of a novel valve operating device.

Other novel features of my invention will appear from the accompanying specification taken in connection with the drawing and the essential features will be summarized in the claims.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a pressing machine embodying my invention part of the mechanism being shown in section and the control devices being shown somewhat diagraminatically; Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional View through a portion of the valve mechanism of Fig. l; While Fig. 3 is a View of a portion of the mechanism of Figs. 1 and 2 taken in approximately the position of the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

I have shown my improved control mechanism as applied to pressing machines which are commonly found in laundries or garment pressing establishments, although it will be-understood that certain features of my invention are applicable to other types of machines. present embodiment, on a frame I is pivotally mounted a head lever Il which carries at its forward end a pressing head I2 which may be heated vin any. suitable manner, not shown,if such heating is desirable. Between the rear end of the head lever and the frame is connected a In the Y 1935, Serial N0. 38,400

pair of toggle links I3 and I4 for moving the head` into and out of pressing'position. A spring I5 biases the links toward broken position which corresponds with the open position of the head. For moving the head to pressing position I provide a motor i6 having a cylinder Isa and a piston. ISU-.whose rod |60 is suitably connected to the toggle links so that-upon `a power stroke of the motor the linksare moved into and preferably beyond straightened position as shown in broken lines in Fig. l. Movement of the links is limited by engagement of the shoulders I3a. and Illa. This broken line position of the links corresponds to the broken line position of the head shown in Fig. l, which isclosely adjacent the bed so that there is no danger of an operator placing her iingers in position between the pressing members. A snubbing device I'I is engaged by the toggle links as they move into strut forming position and tins device also serves to give the toggles an initial kick toward broken position when the press opens. the toggles in the broken line position of Fig. 1 they hold the pressing headin positionv to resist upward pressure against it which is later-exerted by the bed. d

For coaction with the pressing head a bed I8 is provided preferably suitably padded and movable vertically in a portion of the press frame during which movement it is guided by suitable pins I9. `A pressure pin 20 depends below the bed in a suitable bearing and is engaged by the piston 2lb of a motor 2l mounted on the frame and having a cylinder 2Ia.

vMotive fluid is supplied to motor I6 from a suitable source 22 and preferably by a two-hand control device whereby the motive fluid passes It will be noted that with throughvalve casing 23, conduit 24, valve casingv 25 and conduit 26 to the cylinder Ia.. Casing ,23 houses a normally closed inlet valve 23a having a stem 23h which is actuated by manual 23e. Casing 25 houses a normally closed inlet valve 25a and a normally open outlet valve 25h both mounted on a common stern 25e which is actuated by manual 25d. These manuals 23e and 25d are so spaced at the front of the press before the operator as to require the use of Aone hand on each manual to operate the press and it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatboth manuals mustl be opened and held opened until` plied to this device'effectively only afterpistonY lGbhas substantially completed its power stroke. In the particular form shown this air for the operation of the controlY member-*for motor 2| is compressed behind piston |617 in the cylinder |611, as the piston moves along the cylinder and I desire to claim this novel construction although it will be understood that air might Vbe supplied to the control member for motor 2| by other suitable arrangements. v

In the construction shown motive fluid for -motor 2| is supplied from conduit 22 or other suitable source through conduit 21, valve casing 28 and conduit 29. Valve casing 28 houses a normally closed inlet Yvalve 28aY and a normally open outlet valve 28D. Preferably these valves are mounted on separate stem portions, the inlet valve being carried on stem 28o and biased toward closed position by a spring 28d. The outlet valve is carried by stem 28e' which liesY opposite stem 28e in position to abut the same when stem 28e is pressed inwardly. The device shown for actuating valver stem- 28e'comprises a servo-motor 30 having a cylinderV 30a, inY which reciprocates a piston Sb whose piston rodl 39e is rigidly connected with a device for actuating the valves in casing 28. A spring 30d serves to return the piston 30h to itsridle position at the rear or left hand end of the cylinder 33a. after a power stroke.

referably also this spring performs a second function, later described, and to this end one end of the spring is xed at the'point 3 'and the other end is secured tothe piston 30h at the point 32. The Vstructure connected to the piston rod 30e at its outer or forward end comprises an arm 33 hav- `ing a portion 33a which is adapted to engage a portion of the valve mechanism in casing 28 in a manner to actuate the valvesy therein.V In the formshown this portion 33a is movable by oscillation of the ,arm 33 toa position overlying the forward'end of valve stem 28e. A handle portion .3i-ibis rigidly connected with arm 33 to rotate the same in a counterclcckwise direction.' Such rotation-because of the rigid connection between arm 33 andgpiston 30h by means ofY the rod 30e willload the spring 30d by twisting the same. This loading of the spring biases the arm 33 so that it tends to move in a clockwise direction to position the portion 33a in valve actuating position again the stern 28e. Such clockwise movement of arm 33'is limited by the engagement of the shoulder 33o on the arm with the valve stem 28e. Thispositionrof the parts is shown in Fig: 3. When however the arm 313 has been moved outwardly or to the right as shown in Figs. 1 and of piston 30h so asfto conduct air compressed by a power stroke of piston Hbv to the servo-motor 30. A small vent 30e is provided in the" rear end 0f cylinder 30a for a purpose later described.

n It is thought the operation of the pressing machine andV its control mechanism will now be clear. With the parts in the full line position of Fig. ,1, the operator arranges the lay of-the work upon the bedk |8 Vand depresses manuals V23e and 25d. This admits motive fluid to motor I6 which makes a power stroke moving the toggles and the pressing head to the broken line position of Fig. 1. The parts are so arranged that the piston Ib has substantially completed its power stroke-before sufficient uid is compressed in cylinder |6a and delivered'through conduit 35 to servo-motor 3U to overcome spring 30d. `When this takes place, however, piston 30D makes a-power stroke toward the right as seen in Figs. l and 2 compressing spring 30d and moving arm 33 to the right until portion 33a clears stem 28e whereupon spring 30d which has been previously loaded by twisting, causes clockwise rotation of arm 33. This places portion 33a over stem 28e. Motive fluid very quickly leaks out the vent 30e suiliciently to permit spring 30d to return piston 30h to the left hand end of its cylinder, carrying with it the arm 33 which thereby moves valve stems 28e and 28e to the left, closing valve 28h and opening valve 28a. This admits motive fluid to motor 2| which makes a power stroke vertically upward which raises bed I8 into engagement with the head member I2. The toggle links are thus held in the strut-forming position shown in broken lines in Fig. l as; long as motive fluid is supplied to motor 2| and the operator may release manuals 23o and.2^6d whereupon pressure is evacuated from cylinder |6a through valve 25h although the piston remains at the rearward end of the cylinder. To open the press the operator actuates arm 33h to oscillate the arm 33 in a counterclockwise direction which moves portion 33a away from stem 28e releasing this stern, whereupon spring 28d closes valve 28a and opens valve 28h to exhaust motor 2|. Thereupon the bedY I8 and Vpiston 2lb moveV downwardly dueY to the action of gravity on the parts and the device and spring 5 returnV the pressing head and connectedparts to the full line position ofFig. l ready for another operation. The movement of arm 33h in a counterclockwise direction to cause press opening twists spring 36o? in a manner to reload thersame thus placing the parts again in the position of Fig. 3.

What I claim is:

1. Ina pressing machine, a pair of ccacting relatively movable pressing members, a cylinder and piston motorior causing relative movement between said members and into a preliminary position, said motor being arranged to compress air by a power stroke ci its piston, a second motor for causing relative movement between said members and into nal pressing position, a control member for said second motor, an air Voperated device for controlling said control member, and means for supplying to saidY device suicient air for operation'thereof by movement of said first motor suilicient to cause said relative movement into preliminary pressing position.

2. Ina pressing machine, a pair of coacting relatively movable pressing members, motor means operable in two steps for causing relative approach movement between said pressing members, aY iirst stepinto preliminary position and a second step into final pressing position, control members for said motor means for controlling each of said steps, said motor means being arranged to compress air during said first step, an

air operated device for actuating said second step control member, and means for conducting said compressed air to sa1d device, said air compressing arrangement and device being so constructed that air suicient to operate said` device is supplied thereto by rst step operation? of said motor means. 2

3. In a pressing machine, apairof coacting relatively movable pressing members, v.motor means operable in two steps for causing relative approach movement between said pressing members, a first step into preliminary position and a second .step into nal pressing position, Ycontrol members for said motor means for controlling each of said steps,ia,f.device for actuating said second step control member, means for cooking said device, said device being operable when uncocked to actuate said second step control member in fluid supply direction, and means operable by said motor means upon completion of said first step for uncocking said device.

4. In a pressing machine, a pair of coacting pressing members, mechanism for moving one of said members into position adjacent the other, said mechanism being constructed and arranged so that said one member when in said position resists pressure against it, a motor for moving said mechanism to place said one member in said position, control means for said motor, fluid actuated means for moving the pressing surface of said other member against said one member in said adjacent position, control means for said last named means including a fluid supply valve and a device for actuating said valve, said device including a part having a reciprocating and an oscillatory movement, spring means for causing at least one of said movements, means for loading said spring and for holding it loaded, and means for releasing said spring and for causing the other of said movements, said last named means being operable by movement of said motor suicient to place said one member in said adjacent position.

5. In a pressing machine, a pair of coacting pressing members, mechanism for moving one of said members into position adjacent the other, said mechanism being constructed and arranged so that said one member when in said position resists pressure against it, a motor for moving said mechanism to place said one member in said position, control means for said motor, fluid actuated means for moving the pressing surface of said other member against said one member in said adjacent position, control means for said last named means including a fluid supply valve and a device for actuating said valve, said device including a valve actuating part normally held in non-actuating position, means biasing said part toward actuating position, and means for releasing said part for movement toward actuating position, said last named means being operable by movement of said motor sufcient to place said one member in said adjacent position. j

6. In a pressing machine, a pair of coacting pressing members, mechanism for moving one of said members into position adjacent the other, said mechanism being constructed and arranged so that said one member when in said position resists pressure against it, a motor for moving said mechanism to place said one member in said position, control means for said motor, fluid actuated means for moving the pressing surface of said other member against said one member in said adjacent position, control means for said last named means including a uid supply valve and a device for actuating said valve, said device including a valve actuating part normally held in non-actuating position, means biasing said part toward actuating position, and means for releasing said part for movement toward actu- .ating position and"v foi"` ,causing actuating move ment of said'part, said :last named means being .operable :by movement of said motor sufficient to placelsaidxone member in said adjacent position.

7. 'In ya'pressing machine, va pair rof coacting pressingv members, lmechanism `for moving one of said members into position adjacent the other,

said mechanism beinglconstructed and arranged so that said. one member when in .said position resists pressure against.it,1.avmotor for moving said mechanism to place said one member in said position, control means for said motor, fluid actuated means for moving the pressing surface of said other member against said one. member in said adjacent position, control means for said last named means including a fluid supply valve and a device for actuating said valve, said device including a valve actuating part having an oscillating movement into valve actuating position and a reciprocating movement for valve actuation, means for biasing said part toward actuating position, means holding said part in nonactuating position, spring means for causing said reciprocating movement in Valve-actuating direction, means for loading said spring means and for releasing saidholding means, and an operative connection between said last named means and said motor whereby said last named means is operable by movement of said motor suicient to place said one member in said adjacent position.

8. In a pressing machine, a pair of coactingy pressing members, mechanism for moving one of said members into position adjacent the other, said mechanism being constructed and arranged so that said one member when in said position resists pressure against it, a motor for moving said mechanism to place said one member in said position, control means for said motor, fluid actuated means for moving the pressing surface oi said other member against said one member in said adjacent position, control means for said last named means including a fluid supply valve and a device for actuating said valve, said device including a cylinder and piston servomotor having a power stroke in one direction, saidpiston having a piston rod, an arm rigidly carriedV by said rod and adaptedupon rod oscillation to engage a part of said valve, a spring compress'ible by said power stroke and adapted to return said piston to idle position after a power stroke, said return stroke of said piston being adapted to movesaid arm in valve-actuating direction, said spring having one end fixed and the other end secured to said piston, means for rotating said arm and piston to move said arm out of valve engagement and to twist said spring into position adapted to cause return movement of said arm, means holding said arm in said out-oi-engagement position and releasable by a power stroke of said piston, and means for supplying motive fluid to said servomotor by operation of said press motor suficient to place said one member in said adjacent position.

9. In a pressing machine, a pair of coacting pressing members, mechanism for moving one of said members into position adjacent the other, said mechanism being constructed and arranged so that said one member when insaid position resists pressure against it, a motor for moving said mechanism to place said one' member in said position, control means for said motor, fluid actuated means for moving the pressing surface of said other member against said one member in said adjacent position, control means for said'last 1U means for causing relative approach and separating movement between said members, said mo# tor means being arranged to compress air during an' initial portion of its press-closing cycle, a control member for said motor means for controlling the latter portion of the press-closing cycle thereof, anairactuated device for operating said control member, and means for conducting said compressed air to said device.

ANGUS F. HANNEY.k 10 

